# Sandy Bridge

> Intel processor family

**Wikidata**: [Q18660354](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18660354)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sandy-bridge

## Summary
Sandy Bridge is an Intel processor family based on the microarchitecture of the same name. Fabricated using a 32 nm lithography process, it succeeded the Westmere microarchitecture. The Sandy Bridge family was followed by the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Intel processor family and microarchitecture
- **Manufacturing Process**: Fabricated using a 32 nm lithography process
- **Predecessor**: Followed the Westmere microarchitecture
- **Successor**: Was followed by the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture
- **Subclass Of**: Intel microprocessor
- **Related Families**: Includes the Sandy Bridge-E processor family
- **Example Processors**: Includes Xeon models such as the Xeon E5-4650L
- **Aliases**: Also known as SNB and サンディ・ブリッジ

## FAQs
### Q: What manufacturing process did Sandy Bridge use?
A: Sandy Bridge processors were manufactured using a 32 nm lithography process.

### Q: What processor generation came after Sandy Bridge?
A: The Sandy Bridge microarchitecture was succeeded by the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture.

### Q: What processor generation came before Sandy Bridge?
A: The processor microarchitecture that preceded Sandy Bridge was Westmere.

## Why It Matters
Sandy Bridge's significance lies in its defined position within Intel's history of microprocessor development. It represents a distinct technological generation, marking the transition from the preceding Westmere architecture to the subsequent Ivy Bridge architecture. Its identity is tied to its specific 32 nm fabrication process, a key manufacturing metric that defines its era.

The name "Sandy Bridge" refers to both the processor family and the underlying microarchitecture, indicating it was a significant design iteration for Intel. The architecture was scalable, serving as the foundation for a wide range of products, from consumer processors to the high-performance enthusiast "Sandy Bridge-E" line and server-grade Xeon processors. This demonstrates its role as a core technology for Intel's product stack during its lifecycle, making it a crucial reference point for understanding the evolution of processor technology.

## Notable For
- **Distinct Microarchitecture**: The processor family is based on a microarchitecture that shares its name, signifying a major design generation for Intel.
- **32 nm Fabrication Process**: Sandy Bridge processors are defined by their use of a 32 nm lithography process for manufacturing.
- **Clear Generational Position**: It is explicitly documented as the successor to the Westmere microarchitecture and the direct predecessor to Ivy Bridge.
- **Broad Family of Processors**: The architecture was applied across multiple market segments, including the enthusiast-focused Sandy Bridge-E family and various Xeon server microprocessors.

## Body
### ### Classification and Naming
Sandy Bridge is an Intel processor family and a subclass of the broader "Intel microprocessor" category. The underlying microarchitecture for these processors is also named Sandy Bridge. The family is known by several aliases, including the abbreviation "SNB" and the Japanese "サンディ・ブリッジ".

### ### Generational Timeline
The Sandy Bridge microarchitecture holds a specific place in Intel's product roadmap.
- It directly followed the Westmere microarchitecture.
- It was succeeded by the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture.

### ### Technical Details
Processors in the Sandy Bridge family were manufactured using a 32 nm lithography process.

### ### Related Products and Sub-families
The Sandy Bridge architecture was the basis for several product lines and specific models.
- **Sandy Bridge-E**: A related processor family targeting the enthusiast market.
- **Xeon Processors**: The architecture was used for server-grade processors, such as the Xeon E5-4650L. A comprehensive "list of Intel Sandy Bridge-based Xeon microprocessors" also exists.